This is yourWaco
Classroom

Real filmmaking education. Real film industry connections.

An Immersive
Film Education

From directing to producing to editing and screenwriting, our externship-based, mentor-taught programs avoid the unnecessary costs and unrelated requirements of typical film schools and programs. Work directly with accomplished industry veteran filmmakers at one of our fully-equipped film production companies across the country.

Just Last Month

112 Job Positions were Filled

120 Student Wins Achieved

200 Tutorial Sessions were Given

Programs

Director / Producer / Screenwriter

You will study inside a real film production company in your city as you develop your movie idea with a professional filmmaker. Then, upon meeting the necessary requirements, you will be given the opportunity to fly to Los Angeles or New York and pitch your film idea to an executive who could buy or get your movie made.

Film Editing

In many ways the film editor is the most misunderstood of all film professionals. Often considered just a film technician, a good editor is so much more than that. He or she is also a qualified storyteller of the highest order.

Cinematography

The cinematographer is literally the set ‘magician.’ DPs are responsible for the technological wizardry required to get the needed shots and to shape light to achieve the director’s desired artistic effect.

You will study inside a real film production company in your city as you develop your movie idea with a legendary to filmmaker. Then you will fly to Los Angeles or New York to pitch your idea to an executive that could buy or get your movie idea made.

The screenwriter is the person who creates, takes, or adapts an idea and formulates a screenplay. Without the writer, there would be no movie. Period. He or she is the starting gate. He or she is the person that starts the ball rolling down the hill.

In many ways the film editor is the most misunderstood of all film professionals. Often considered just a film technician, a good editor is, without doubt, much more than that. He or she is also a qualified storyteller of the highest order.

The cinematographer is literally the set ‘magician.’ DPs are responsible for the technological wizardry to help create the needed light, while at the same time also having the keen sensibility to shape the light for the greatest artistic effect.

Waco

Film Connection Locations

Schedule a Tour

Visit a Film Production Company
In Waco

Get started with a tour of one of our Texas apprenticeship/externship locations. Or call us for more information at 800-295-4433

Tuition
Comparison

Film Connection’s unique mentor-style education is far more cost-effective than trade schools or traditional colleges and on average, requires less financing (based on national averages). Compare the true costs of education.

Meet our Faculty

Why learn from teachers when you can learn from the professionals?

Greg Freeman Waco Mentor

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Greg Freeman Waco Mentor

Background

Greg Freeman is an award-winning Director of Photography with nearly two decades in news, sports, entertainment, special programming, documentaries, and commercials. Greg has directed projects for nearly every major television network including ABC, Discovery, ESPN, HBO, HGTV, NBC, PBS, and more.

Tom Malloy Waco Mentor

Tom Malloy Waco Mentor

Background

Jason Jackson Waco Mentor

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Jason Jackson Waco Mentor

Background

Past productions include LMN’s Monstresses; Investigation Discovery’s Cuff Me If You Can; America’s Most Haunted and UFO’s Crashed my Vacation; America’s Most Secret and I Faked My Own Death for Discovery; National Geographic’s 42 Ways to Kill Hitler and Don’t Try This At Home; Vampire Secrets and Ancient Ink for The History Channel; Las Vegas Bikers for truTV; Weather Channel’s Full Force Nature; True Confessions for WE-TV as well as Beyond Death and Investigative Reports for A&E.

Matthew Temple Waco Mentor

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Matthew Temple Waco Mentor

Background

“All aspects of filmmaking are primarily experiential, so a program like this one gives the students what they need most- the opportunity to DO.” — Matthew Temple, Producer of “The Advocate” and Universal’s “Dragon Nest: Warriors’ Dawn”

Matthew Temple has long stood at the crossroads of art and social action–his work and passion split between telling stories and participating in the creation of new paradigms wherein new stories for the future can be created. As a storyteller, he works as a screenwriter, director, producer and actor. As a social entrepreneur, he is the founder and president of the non-profit WeStrive, where he is the executive director of the Wandering Reel Traveling Film Festival. Temple is currently VP of Production and Development for Mili Pictures Worldwide.

Nick Kielhold Waco Mentor

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Nick Kielhold Waco Mentor

Background

Nick is your basic military brat. Except for the fact that neither of his parents were actually in the military. But, like many military families, his family moved several times during his youth, living in Omaha, Chicago, and Minneapolis among other places. And although he wasn’t living on military bases, he developed a deep interest in History, and all things military. Ask him about the Battle of Tarawa in 1943, and you may just get an entire lesson on the Pacific Theater of World War II. When he’s not painting tanks for his war game simulations, Nick works here. He shoots video. He edits video. He talks about World War II. A lot. Anyone who comes into contact with Nick will become much better versed in the history of mankind and all the wars it has produced over the years. Nick provided 50% of the formula that founded Full Effect Productions over 18 years ago, and has played a vital role in its success. Nick is a 1987 graduate of the University of South Dakota, and his previous experience includes working at a local TV station as Commercial Videographer/Producer. Not taking a cue from his parents, Nick has decided to keep his family in one city, and has called Sioux City, Iowa home since 1988. He has a wife of 29 years and an adult son and daughter. In his free time, Nick can be found studiously painting small military ships, tanks and airplanes. He has amassed large numbers of these items that comprise entire military units used for battles at the MAGECON gaming convention. He’s a film buff who’s recently installed home theater has him positively giddy, and hardly ever seeing daylight.

Sandy Stern Waco Mentor

Sandy Stern Waco Mentor

Background

Rob Helmstetter Waco Mentor

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Rob Helmstetter Waco Mentor

Background

Rob has experience with major corporate ad agencies Publicis, Medicus, Digitas based in New York and Chicago. He has always been on the bleeding edge of technology and believes that services should be simple for the viewers.

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The Film Scene in Waco

The Waco, Texas Film Connection Film School Alternative

The Waco-Temple-Bryan Film Connection film school alternative is the next step for any aspiring film professional.

Are you obsessed with film? Do you have a strong desire to succeed? Well, the Film Connection can help you fulfill both. The Film Connection runs on an apprentice/mentor basis. We pair you with currently working industry pros who can help you create the career you want.

After you finish our course you’ll have a finished screenplay, two different fully polished scenes, and a trailer. You’ll also have numerous industry contacts as well as real world on-location experience.

Traditional film schools are expensive and they don’t give you the skills or experience that you’ll need to work in the film industry. Film Connection does. End of story.

Located in south-central Texas, the towns of Waco, Temple and Bryan host a combined total population of over 240,000 people, and their respective metro areas have even more than that. This area is home to several major colleges, including Baylor University and Texas A&M. Entertainment personalities with ties to this area include alternative band Flyleaf, rock legend Ted Nugent, country legend Willie Nelson, and actors Steve Martin, Rip Torn and Jennifer Love Hewitt. The Waco-Temple-Bryan area benefits from the generous state incentives offered to attract filmmakers to the region, as well as close proximity to major cities like Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Whether your interest in filmmaking is directing, producing, camera work, lighting, or special effects, the Waco-Temple-Bryan area holds plenty of opportunity for you.

Among the many major movies, commercials, TV shows and documentaries that are filmed all over Texas, a number of these have been shot in the Waco-Temple-Bryan area. Some of the movies filmed here and in surrounding areas include Flesh and Bone, The Stars Fell on Henrietta, Graduation Day, Where the Heart Is, upcoming movie The Tree of Life, and the Ben Stein documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, to name a few.

When you enroll in our Waco-Temple-Bryan area film school alternative, you’ll gain the benefit of the many professional connections and relationships we’ve forged over the years, giving you an advantage typical film schools can’t give you. As you work on real film and video shoots with your personal instructor (a working film or television professional), you’ll make powerful industry connections of your own that can lead to future work. Enroll today, and find out why over 70 percent of our graduates get hired! Let us get you on the path toward your dreams today.

Connections Matter

Learn From Industry Pros

The Film Connection film school alternative is endorsed by filmmakers who are making the movies you love.

Professionals in the film business—including many of the famous producers, screenwriters and directors who’ve worked on the films that inspire you—endorse Film Connection’s programs for one simple reason: they know our immersive hands-on method works.

Mark Kohn

Marc is an accomplished executive with a consistent record of managing costs, measuring progress with metrics and creating operational efficiencies. He’s a thoughtful and enthusiastic professional possessing the ability to create a vision, gain executive alignment and effectively lead dynamic high performance teams for success.

Jason Hewitt

Jason Hewitt, a native of Louisiana, left the technology industry to join the film and television industry. Hewitt was an early mover in the Internet economy, founding the website creation and marketing management company Planet Symphony in 1994.

ICM Partners

Carl Millender

Carl Millender born in Shreveport, Louisiana on March 5, 1970 is a pioneer in the film and television industry. In 1990 Carl Millender became a cultural consultant for NBC’s new programs, including “The Fresh Prince of Bel-air”, “Seinfeld”…

Brian Glazen

Equal parts MacGyver, Steven Spielberg and Gandhi, Brian has ideas. Ideas about marketing, ideas about communication and ideas about fixing just about anything that might be broken. When he’s not sharing his ideas with clients you can usually find him fixing things at his own home or eagerly searching for things that may need fixing…

Sam Borowski

“Film Connection truly is the ‘Film School of Hard Knocks.’ It helps new students to gain experience and network and teaches one thing I always preach to young filmmakers: practicality. It gives new students and would-be filmmakers, writers and editors, a chance to connect personally with their mentors.”

Alex Keledjian

Richard Berg

Richard Berg is an Art Director’s Guild and Emmy nominated Production Designer. He is responsible for the Production Design of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, Eleventh Hour, Miami Medical, Chase and Modern Family. Berg is also an architect.

Jeff Kushon

Great program. I’m proud to be a part of it.” Jeff has worked on over 200 film sets and has been a Set Decorator on hit movies, “Dude Where’s My Car”, “Nurse Betty”, “Blade 2”, “Beautiful”, “She’s All That” as well as TV shows “Modern Family”, “Trust Me” and “Miami Medical”.

Luis Estrada

“Our first apprentice (extern) in this program was put right in the middle of the action and it was amazing how he was able to learn by doing. This Film Connection is great for people with a sincere interest in this field. Our apprentice (extern) turned out to be a reliable resource and we hope […]

Matt Pellowski

“Being paired with working professionals and established companies allows up-and-coming artists to learn on the job, introduces them to the realities of film production, and helps them acquire the tools needed to become successful. Two of our current staff are graduates of the Film Connection.”